Do Dollar Stores Take EBT Card, Snap or Food Stamp – The use of SNAP benefits or Electronic Benefits Transfer Cards has replaced food stamps today. You can purchase groceries, food, and drink items with your food stamp benefits with certain restrictions about the type of food that you can purchase from authorized stores. While food stamps or EBT cards are accepted in almost any store that sells groceries and fresh foods it is always a good idea to know the type of stores that are accepting EBT as a method of payment.
A popular shopping destination among SNAP recipients is Dollar Stores. But do all Dollar General stores accept EBT? The answer is ‘Yes’ a lot of Dollar Stores are accepting EBT for USDA-approved products and this includes snack items, non-alcoholic beverages, seeds and foods to produce food, groceries etc. This guide will provide an overview of how you can use your EBT or food stamp benefits at Dollar Store chains.
Highlights of this Post
Key Takeaways
- Dollar General accepts EBT cards for SNAP-approved food items.
- This includes fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, and non-alcoholic beverages.
- You cannot use EBT for prepared meals, tobacco, or alcohol.
- Check the store for EBT signs or ask an employee to confirm.
- Some states allow EBT use at authorized restaurants, but this is rare for Dollar General.
What Criteria Does A Store Need To Fulfill To Accept EBT Payments?
To accept SNAP benefits or EBT cards a store needs to provide three different kinds of products in four categories with a minimum of two perishable categories.
SNAP-accepting stores that take EBT offer the following items– bread and cereals, dairy products, fish, poultry meat and fruits and vegetables. Dollar stores must have half of their sales coming from staple food to accept SNAP benefits and this does not include candy, prepared food, soft drinks, alcoholic beverages or junk food.
Read also: Does Amazon Accept EBT Card, Snap or Food Stamp?
Does Dollar General Accept Food Stamps or EBT Payments?
The good news is that a wide number of stores including Dollar General are accepting EBT or SNAP benefits. You can purchase EBT-approved products using your SNAP benefits at Dollar Stores. SNAP recipients can purchase food and groceries for their home, non-alcoholic beverages, snack items, seeds or plants for producing food at home, frozen food, baby formula, beverages, packaged items, snacks, dairy, meats, bread, cereals etc from these stores.
SNAP or EBT benefits can be applied to almost everything that comes with ‘Nutritional Facts’ on the label. Food stamps or EBT cards are accepted as a method of payment at almost any Dollar General location however it is important to confirm before heading to a local Dollar Store. Generally Dollar Stores that accept EBT issues a notice on the window or door stating “EBT Card Holders are Accepted” or “We Accept EBT Payments”!
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Why Should You Use An EBT Card To Pay For Your Order At Dollar General Stores?
With an Electronic Benefits Transfer card, you can purchase groceries as necessary food items for your family otherwise you would have to spend the expense from your pocket. With your EBT at the Dollar General Stores, you can take advantage of the amazing food items available with them.
A lot of Dollar General prices are comparatively lower than other grocery stores so you can get food items at competitive prices and stretch your food budget further. You can also find amazing frozen food collections at Dollar General Stores located throughout the country.
The frozen food can last up to six months and they’re also quick to prepare at home. You can easily shop for food, stretch your SNAP dollars and keep the food in the freezer for a longer period. Dollar General allows customers to use their EBT cards to try new food without worrying about the quality.
Shopping at any Dollar General store is a convenient and fast way to make sure your family gets nutritious and healthy food at affordable rates. The lines are generally smaller in Dollar General unlike big grocery stores so you need not wait for long to get your groceries.
Read also: Does Lidl Accept Food Stamps or EBT?
What Can I Purchase With My EBT Card From Dollar General?
You can use SNAP benefits or your EBT card for purchasing USDA-approved food products from Dollar General. The products that have been approved by USDA for SNAP recipients include seeds and plans for producing fruit, home nutrition products, snacks and non-alcoholic beverages.
If any product contains nutrition information on its package then rest assured you can cover it with your EBT card the following is the list of items that you can cover using your EBT card at Dollar General.
- Fruits and vegetables
- Meat
- Fish
- Poultry
- Seafood
- Baby formula
- Bread and cereals
- Bakery items
- Seeds and plants for producing food
- Snacks and non-alcoholic beverages
- Milk and dairy products
In a nutshell, you can cover a wide variety of grocery stores with your EBT card or food stamp benefits at any Dollar General store. Dollar General comes with a wide selection of necessary food items and groceries. The employees at the store will be able to answer all your questions or doubts regarding EBT-eligible items. You can also check the EBT-eligible labels marked on the food items at some Dollar General stores.
Also read: Does Baskin-Robbins Take EBT, SNAP, or Food Stamps?
What Can’t You Buy With An EBT Card At Dollar General?
SNAP recipients can purchase seeds, plants, food items, and necessary groceries that they can take home and produce meat at their respective households with the help of EBT card or food stamp benefits. Therefore prepared meals or hot food are not eligible for EBT benefits. You can however use TANF cash to cover these items.
You cannot use EBT for purchasing wine, liquor, energy drinks or non-edible food that are not permissible as per USDA guidelines. Following is a list of items that are not eligible to be purchased with EBT in any Dollar General store.
- Alcoholic beverages like wine, beer and liquor
- Tobacco products like cigars and cigarettes
- Vitamins, supplements and medicines
- Pet food
- Hot prepared meals
- Live animals except fish and shellfish
- Cleaning products or household supplies
- Gas
- Cosmetics, skincare items or any other products not related to groceries
- Paper products
- Hygiene or Sanitary items
It is important to make sure you’re visiting an EBT-friendly Dollar General to use your food stamp benefits and make sure all the products are EBT-friendly. If you have purchased any non-eligible item then you can pay for it using a debit card or cash. You can proceed to the checkout once done with shopping where you have to swipe your EBT card and be at the POS terminal.
Also read: Does Sheetz Accept EBT?
Can You Use Coupons And EBT Cards At Dollar General?
SNAP recipients who want to stretch their EBT dollars further while grocery shopping at any Dollar General store can make use of coupons along with their EBT card. With your SNAP benefits card, you can save a few dollars by using store or manufacturer coupons. A coupon is another form of payment that is accepted by various stores.
Using coupons along with your EBT card can be a bit complicated if you’re living in any U.S state that imposes sales tax on groceries and food items. Using coupons with an EBT card is similar to purchasing groceries and food with cash. You just have to present the coupons at the register while checking out before you pay. A lot of Dollar General Stores have an app that requires you to create an account with your number and details for downloading coupons online.
You can choose the type of coupons you want to add to your account through the app or store. Once you’re ready to check out simply type in your phone number at the payment terminal and the coupons will be automatically added to your order if eligible. You can then choose another payment method like EBT once the coupons are applied to complete the transaction.
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How Do Dollar General Stand Out From Other Grocery Stores?
Customers can find extensive varieties of products at competitive prices at Dollar General stores which is not the case with big retailers or grocery chains. Dollar General comes with its line of products so you can find snacks, store-brand cereals, drinks, canned food and many other items that are affordable unlike big brands.
Dollar General products come with various flavors and nutritional values which you can easily cover with your EBT card. A lot of SNAP recipients prefer to shop here as they find products at low prices. The stores are smaller unlike grocery stores so there are fewer distractions and it is quite easy to find the item that you need.
The stores mark down a lot of items every week and even accept coupons from customers to make sure they get products at low prices. No matter whether you are living in a rural area or not you can easily find a Dollar General store at any corner.
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Does Dollar Tree Accept EBT Payments?
Yes, Dollar Tree accepts EBT cards or food stamps for both cash benefits and snap purchases on your Electronic Benefits Transfer Card. Customers have the option to select whether they want to use EBT food purchase or EBT cash during checkout.
It is significant to ensure you designate the portion of your benefits from which the purchase will be made. If you designate EBT benefits accidentally for food purchases then Dollar Tree will not be able to change the benefit after the transaction gets completed.
With nearly 4000 stores located throughout 48 states, Dollar Trees is an amazing resource for low-income households in America. They have an amazing selection of refrigerated and freezer foods which is uncommon for dollar stores. They also have a robust food and grocery section to maximize your EBT benefits. Dollar Tree also accepts EBT for online transactions through Instacart.
Does Five Below Accept EBT?
Five Below is another popular Dollar Store chain that has nearly 1200 store locations in more than 40 states. Unlike Family Dollar and Dollar General, Five Below sells affordable merchandise products in the store.
If you’re living in an area close to these stores you can find an amazing option that starts at below $5 and they offer both online and in-person shopping to customers. A small assortment of products in the range of $6 to $25 are also available but the majority of the products are below $5.
Unfortunately, Five Below do not accept EBT cards, Google Pay, PayPal, personal checks, purchase orders, or money order checks. They only accept Apple Pay, cash, debit or credit cards and gift goods, PayPal, Apple Pay or Venmo at this time. They offer competitive pricing on toys, electronics, party supplies, sports equipment clothing etc.
Read also: What can you Shop Online With EBT?
Does Family Dollar Accept EBT Payments?
Family Dollar has nearly 7000 store locations across 45 states in America. They have a wide grocery selection unlike other dollar stores on the list. Compared to Dollar General these stores sell low cost merchandise products including higher ticket items such as clothing, BBQ grills, outdoor toys etc.
Before heading to a local family to store, ensure to check with their EBT policy. While some locations are accepting EBT some may not accept so call your local Family Dollar store to find additional details.
The chain carries a wide array of products that meet USDA SNAP requirements and serves ground beef, dairy products, frozen entrees, hot dogs, canned pasta, snack food, bacon etc. Family Dollar does not accept WIC vouchers as a method of payment; however, you can use alternate payment methods like check, debit card, credit card, or cash to pay for your order.
Read our next guide: Does Sam’s Club Take EBT Or Food Stamps ?
Do 99¢ Only Stores Accept EBT?
99¢ Only Stores have various locations spread across California, Arizona, Texas and Nevada. They offer a wide variety of fresh produce, snacks, food, party supplies, closeout deals etc. Unfortunately, 99¢ Only Stores are not accepting EBT from SNAP beneficiaries as a method of payment for in-store purchases.
Everything available in the store comes with a cost of $0.99 and is an amazing way for people to stretch their food budget. They sell fresh seasonal produce so low-income families can enjoy meals easily. Using EBT cash benefits you can also cover items that are not covered by SNAP like school supplies, cleaning products etc.
Note: Following are the Dollar Stores that are not accepting EBT:
- Bills Dollar Store (in Chatom AL)
- Dollar Zone (in various locations in Alaska)
Read also: Does Target Take EBT OR Food Stamps?
List Of Online Dollar Stores
Many online retailers allow people to use cash benefits or EBT cards to make the right purchases. The majority of online dollar stores are accepting EBT as a method of payment. Due to their low pricing and availability of necessary groceries online dollar stores are worth looking at options among SNAP beneficiaries.
Let’s take a look at the following online Dollar Stores:
Dollar Tree
Dollar Tree is not only successful in its in-store shopping business but also offers free shopping to local stores if you’re ordering online. Dollar Tree offers exclusive perks while shopping to customers. They ship products to your home for small shipping charges.
Dollar Store
Dollar Store opened its first online store in 1996 and started selling at prices between $0.50 to $2. You can make an online order with Dollar Store by making a minimum order of $50.
Dollar King
Dollar King is an online store that offers in-person shopping experiences to customers in California. They provide a wide array of products like snack and drink items however they do not accept food stamps or EBT as a method of payment.
Some of the products that are available with Dollar King are health, storage, arts and crafts, tools, pet supplies, stationary clothing, cleaning, back to school, seasonal items etc.
Dollar General
Dollar General is a familiar name when it comes to looking for dollar stores. They provide an amazing online selection of items with inventory as low as $6. You can sign up for their digital coupons to boost your savings and stretch your food budget further.
H&J Closeouts
H&J Closeout is another online dollar store with more than 25 years of experience. The dollar store has marked items below $1 and on shopping online you can find items less than $1.
You can find a wide array of items here for any events like birthdays, anniversaries, wedding showers etc. If you’re looking to purchase bulk items online then H&J closeout is a worthwhile choice.
SNAP recipients are also curious to know: Does Whole Foods Accept EBT? All You Need to Know
How To Use Your EBT Card At Dollar General Stores?
Once you qualify for the SNAP program you will be allotted an EBT card where money will be credited into your account each month. The card is similar to a debit card and helps you to purchase eligible products from participating stores including Dollar General stores.
Let’s learn the following steps that will help you to know how to use your EBT card at Dollar General stores.
- To use your EBT card at the Dollar Store first locate a store location that accepts EBT cards.
- The next step is to contact the staff and learn whether they’re accepting EBT to avoid the guesswork.
- Once you’re sure the Dollar Tree near you accepts EBT cards you can shop for your preferred items with your SNAP benefits card at the cash register and let the kiosk know that you will be paying with SNAP benefits.
- Insert the card and enter the four-digit PIN to complete the transaction. You must carry an alternate source of payment like debit cards, cash or credit cards if you run out of EBT funds or wish to purchase any SNAP-restricted food item.
Even though you can use your EBT card for in-person shopping at Dollar Tree you cannot use the card for online purchases. With cash benefit, you can withdraw cash to purchase a Dollar Tree gift card at the store and the gift card can be used for making online purchases as well. However, those who do not have EBT cash benefits have to use a gift card with an alternate source of payment.
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What Are The Different Payment Options Available With Dollar Tree?
Dollar Tree shoppers can use a wide array of payments to complete their transactions. However in-store payment can be a bit different from online payment options.
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In-Store Dollar Tree Payment Options
Dollar Tree accepts EBT cards, and credit and debit cards as a method of payment from customers who are shopping in-store. You can use checks for making payments as all stores are equipped to process checks through digital check acceptance. As per Dollar Tree’s website, the retailer charges a $1 surcharge on EBT transactions.
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Online Dollar Tree Transactions
Dollar Tree accepts Visa, American Express, MasterCard, Discover debit or credit cards for online orders and you can also use PayPal. A few Dollar Tree stores also accept EBT for transactions.
Read also: What can you Shop Online With EBT?
Additional Grocery Stores That Are Accepting EBT
The following is the list of additional stores in our grocery chains that are accepting EBT as a method of payment from SNAP beneficiaries.
- Friendly Foods
- Albertsons
- ALDI
- Walgreen
- CVS
- Piggly Wiggly
- Harris Teeter
- Rite Aid
- Speedway
- All Stores
- Publix
- Safeway
- Sam’s Club
- City Market
- Family Food Stores
- Foodland
- Food Lion
- H Mart
- Big Y Foods
- BJ’s Wholesale Club
- Costco
- Hometown Foods
- Jubilee Foods
- Kroger
- Market Basket
Conclusion
Figuring out which stores accept EBT as a method of payment for households who rely on SNAP can be a challenging experience. Often a lot of stores change their SNAP EBT policy with no prior information or warning to make things more confusing. Fortunately, budget-conscious SNAP shoppers can use the EBT cards at Dollar General Stores. Dollar stores are an amazing way for you to save your hard-earned money on essentials and groceries and a lot of EBT recipients prefer to shop with Dollar Stores with their food stamp funds. With nearly 35,000 Dollar Stores in America it can be difficult to find which one accepts TANF cash benefits or SNAP benefits so you can refer to this guide. Our comprehensive blog has covered everything that will help you to know how you can use your EBT card at Dollar Stores.
We hope this article has been informative enough to give you all the details you need regarding Dollar Stores that accept EBT. You can learn more about the government grants and financial assistance program at the Get Government Grants’ blog section today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Dollar Tree Accept EBT?
Yes, Dollar Tree accepts both SNAP food benefits and cash benefits. SNAP benefits will help you to buy nutritious food items. Cash benefits can allow you to buy items that are not covered by SNAP like cleaning supplies, diapers, baby wipes etc.
What Does An EBT Card Not Cover?
You cannot use your food stamp to purchase alcohol like wine, beer, liquor, or energy drinks with Supplement Facts, alcohol, cosmetics, hot food and other items with no nutritional value. However, you can purchase hot food meals from participating restaurants like Pizza Hut if you are living in the RMP-approved state and then visiting an RMP-authorized restaurant.